phytoestrogens and Sexual-Dysfunction--Physiological

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to critically evaluate the effectiveness of phytoestrogens on sexual disorders and severity of dyspareunia.. Relevant studies were identified through a systematic search of major databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus up to 29 September 2017, without any time limit. Two independent reviewers screened all abstracts and full-text articles. The final version of Jadad scale was used for evaluating the quality of trials.. Soy did not have an effect on sexual function (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.099 [95% CI: -3.033 to 0.835, p = 0.265]; heterogeneity I. Phytoestrogens have various effects on sexual function. Published reports show that maritime pine bark, T. foenum-graecum L., and F. vulgare could be considered as agents to overcome sexual dysfunctions while soy, red clover, genistein, and flaxseed had no promising effects on these conditions.

Topics: Dyspareunia; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Isoflavones; Menopause; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Plants, Medicinal; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of equol and resveratrol supplementation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in otherwise healthy menopausal women with hot flashes, anxiety and depressive symptoms.. Sixty recently menopausal women aged 50-55 years were randomized in a 12-week, placebo-controlled trial to receive 200mg of fermented soy containing 10mg of equol and 25mg of resveratrol (1 tablet/day). The primary outcome was the change in score on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), used to evaluate the severity of age-/menopause-related complaints. Additional outcome measures included the subject-reported score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), which was used specifically to assess sleep quality.. The symptoms assessed by the MRS improved during treatment in the active group. Comparison between placebo and treatment groups revealed statistically significant improvement in particular for dryness of vagina (-85.7%) (p<0.001), heart discomfort (-78.8%; p<0.001) and sexual problems (-73.3%; p<0.001). On the HAM-D significant improvements at week 12 were seen in work and activities (-94.1%) (p<0.001). Subjects treated with equol and resveratrol also had significant differences in the sleep domain of the NHP (p<0.001).. These findings provide evidence that 12 weeks of dietary supplementation with equol and resveratrol may improve menopause-related quality of life in healthy women.

Topics: Anxiety; Depression; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Equol; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Quality of Life; Resveratrol; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sleep; Stilbenes; Treatment Outcome; Vagina

To assess the effects of 2 months of treatment with Femarelle for climacteric syndrome in Taiwanese postmenopausal women.. A multi-center, open-label trial of 260 postmenopausal women, age ≥ 45 years with vasomotor symptoms. Women were enrolled after obtaining a detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination. They then received Femarelle (640 mg/d) twice daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the changes in the frequency and severity of hot flushes from baseline to 4 weeks (1 month) and 8 weeks (2 months). Changes of general climacteric syndrome were assessed using a modified climacteric scale designed by Greene.. The frequency and severity of hot flushes were significantly improved with Femarelle use (p < 0.001). After 8 weeks of treatment, the percentage of women with various climacteric syndromes was reduced (from 100% to 20.9% for hot flushes, from 97.7% to 87.9% for psychological symptoms, from 93.8% to 78.8% for somatic symptoms, and from 87.8% to 74.9% for sexual symptoms). General climacteric syndrome scores also significantly decreased, from 20.8 ± 0.7 at the time of enrollment to 12.9 ± 0.7 after 8 weeks of Femarelle treatment (p < 0.0001). Participants experienced improvement of various climacteric symptoms and signs after 8 weeks of treatment (75.1% for hot flushes, 68.7% for psychological symptoms, 70.6% for somatic symptoms, and 69.0% for sexual problems respectively). After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment with Femarelle, patients showed statistically significant improvement in climacteric symptoms (p < 0.0001). Three women (1.2%) withdrew from the study after 4 weeks of treatment due to adverse effects.. Femarelle significantly improved climacteric symptoms in Taiwanese postmenopausal women. However, further evaluation is needed regarding the safety of long-term consumption.

Topics: Aged; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Plant Extracts; Postmenopause; Severity of Illness Index; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexuality; Syndrome

Vaginal dryness, low sexual desire, and low sexual arousability are critical issues for many postmenopausal women. Hormone therapy seems to improve vaginal lubrication and dyspareunia.. To evaluate, in postmenopausal women who refused hormonal therapy, the role of genistein in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms and its capacity to induce clitoral volumetric and vascular modifications independently from sexual stimulation.. Twenty-nine postmenopausal women who refused hormonal therapy were submitted to oral daily treatment with genistein 45 mg (Group I; N = 15); or no treatment (Group II; N = 14). The Group II patients served as controls. The patients were not randomly assigned to the two groups. The patients were studied before and after 3 months.. Endometrial and clitoral ultrasonographic analysis; color Doppler evaluation of the dorsal clitoral artery; evaluation of hormonal plasma concentrations; administration of the two-factor Italian McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire; compilation of a monthly diary reporting the number of hot flashes. The ultrasound, color Doppler and psychometric tests were performed by examiners blinded to the participant's group assignment.. In the genistein-treated patients the vasomotor symptoms ameliorated at the end of the study. The use of genistein did not influence any other parameter.. Postmenopausal women submitted to a 3-months treatment with genistein showed an improvement of vasomotor symptoms. However, isoflavones seem to not induce any modification in the clitoral structures.

Topics: Clitoris; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Genistein; Humans; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Pilot Projects; Postmenopause; Prospective Studies; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Testosterone

To evaluate the effectiveness of phytoestrogens as alternatives for selective dysfunctional changes in the menopausal rabbit model.. Prospective, vehicle-controlled experimental study.. Reproductive pharmacology laboratory in a university department.. Twenty-four rabbits with experimentally induced menopause and six intact controls.. Surgical menopause was induced in 24 rabbits by ovariectomy. After 4 weeks of convalescence, three groups (n = 6) were given 100 microg/kg E(2) valerate, 100 microg/kg daidzein, or 6.68 mg/kg red clover extract daily for 12 weeks. The remaining six rabbits served as the operated control group.. Vaginal blood flow using Doppler flowmetry, before, during, and after pelvic nerve stimulation; and measured parameters of uterine weight, femoral bone density, clitoral cavernosal histology, and hormone levels.. After pelvic nerve stimulation, blood flow increased remarkably in the daidzein-treated group. Serum E(2) and uterine weight increased significantly in the estrogen group. Cavernosal structure was well preserved in all three treatment groups, and bone mineral density was lowest in ovariectomized controls (0.3467 g/cm(2)) and highest in the red clover (0.4012 g/cm(2)) groups.. Supplementing isoflavones for menopause leads to significant improvements in bone density, tissue integrity, and vaginal blood flow with minimal effect on uterine weight and may therefore be a viable alternative to conventional regimens using synthetic estrogens.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Female; Isoflavones; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Menopause; Models, Animal; Ovariectomy; Phytoestrogens; Plant Preparations; Rabbits; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Trifolium; Vagina